French President Emmanuel Macron insisted on Thursday that parties involved in the Russia-Ukraine peace process are waiting to hear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to an unconditional ceasefire proposed by the United States and backed by European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "The only thing we need is for Putin to stop lying," Macron said, explaining that the Russian president says he wants peace during talks with the US but "continues to bomb Ukraine."
Macron said that, if Russia rejects the ceasefire, it must face consequences. However, if it accepts, "we will be able to build a just and lasting peace, a peace that would allow us to find territorial concessions and firm security guarantees." He also saluted US diplomacy efforts but stressed that Russia is "the only aggressor" in the conflict after US President Donald Trump attacked Zelensky over his refusal to cede Crimea to Russia.
